The Old Sith Trials

Theme Song




Name/Title: Darth Kain

Age: 26 Standard Years Old

Sex: Male

Species: Human

Homeworld: Kashyyk

Occupation: Sith Apprentice

Height: 6'1"

Appearance: When he's not completely concealed in dark, tattered robes and a hood to match, he is a rather handsome human. Warm black hair and soft green eyes stand out on his face, as well as the deep scar across the bridge of his nose. He's tall and lean, and often wears a pendant around his neck that seems to hold both significance to him, and pure dark energy.

Weapons: One lightsaber, crimson bladed with ancient runes inscribed in the hilt.

Equipment: His pendant, which he has not given information on save that it is important to him. Texts about the ancient Sith, more for historical value than anything. Scrolls describing the Aing-Tii and their rituals, obtained illegally.

Description of Abilities: Kain maintains a level of empathy that allows him to be diplomatic if he so chooses, however any annoyances that can't be spared will have to deal with his apt skills in lightsaber combat and even more dangerous Force abilities, particularly his pyrokinesis, an innate gift. Infiltration is not his forte, however he can be stealthy when he needs to be.

Personality: Kain is quiet in his off-time, often found reading or being deep in thought. When on a mission he speaks calmly, only releasing his passion and fury in the heat of combat, where he feels it belongs. His interpretation of the Sith Code is not as extreme as many of the other apprentices, for he doesn't believe that showing strength and achieving power always necessitates in the harming of innocents.

Biography: Darth Kain, once known simply as Corvar, was found by the Wookiees on Kashyyk in the wreckage of a starship. His true parents were nowhere to be found, likely dead, and luckily for him, the tribe of Wookiees that found him were not the kind that ate babies. For the first year of his life, Corvar was raised on Kashyyk. That is, until a Twi'lek trader by the name of Hassan adopted him. For the next eight years Corvar and Hassan lived from ship to ship, never staying one place too long. At the age of three, Hassan realized that the boy was different, particularly when things began to be set aflame whenever Corvar was upset. He could only assume that Corvar had a unique connection in the Force, and rather than send Corvar off to the Jedi, Hassan scrounged up any texts related to the Force that he found in his travels. This led to a forbidden text about the Sith, one that drew Corvar deep into the dark side.

At the age of nine, while he and Hassan were getting fuel for their ship on Tatooine, a gang of slavers attacked the spaceport where they stayed, killing dozens and enslaving twice that number. Corvar became a slave, and Hassan did not survive. Over the next two years, Corvar was forced into hard labor by the slavers, and it was only through his lessons about the Sith that he learned to finally control his power. With help from no one, Corvar set the village ablaze, killing slaves and slavers alike in his escape. He carved out the explosive device placed in his body, and with it being extremely small, he placed it inside of a pendant that he wears around his neck to this day. It lingers with the memory of his escape, and the kind of power it takes to break the chains that bind.

It wasn't long before a representative of the Sith found Corvar, sensing his power. Corvar was excited to learn that the Sith survived, and that he could have a place among them.

IC: Jania Kio
Beyond Shadows

The best news she could have heard was that she wasn’t dead but that still didn’t explain what she did to truly end up here. It was great luck that she didn’t die however and Jania would focus on that for the moment. Being dropped to the ground she felt the ability to move once again and though she still felt pain it wasn’t something she couldn’t grit her teeth and bare. Stretching and hearing her bones pop back into place she slightly flinched thinking back to the sounds of her bones cracking not that long ago due to the woman she loathed with every fiber of her being.

Walking behind the man as they made their way into the mist she figured she had better answer his questions soon before this guy finished the job Viscretus started. “Uhh thank you for helping me move again..” she cracked her neck since it felt a little stiff before continuing on. “I’m a Sith acolyte under a bastard and abandoner... it was my first day on Korriban. I’m a street fighter from Rishi.. my first mission was a failure but I was sent to the tombs for a second chance and that’s where I’m probably still am...”

Looking around as the mist started to get darker and the voices plaguing her increased in volume but she didn’t try to shut her ears this time or yell out in pain... no, instead Jania soaked all their violent, sadistic sayings in.. she took pleasure in the cold darkness as she felt this was probably the best way of getting accustomed to using the dark side.

“I have power sir... I know I can feel it inside but I don’t know how to use it. Please help me... help me so I can kill her and dance around her body.. can you do that.... can you help truly help me...” Jania looked over curiously as the darkness obscured her vision. She could sense the man still in front of her but all she saw was cold darkness and the slight presence of malicious forces closing in on her again.

Tag: darthramage, Darth Dreadwar

IC: Darth Xirr
Statue room, Underneath Sadow's Tomb, Korriban


    Xirr was as excited as someone in his current position could be when he saw Lord Catalyst move to join in the fight with Darth Coatlec. The silver-tongued sith quickly pulled the hilt of his saberstaff into the palm of his hand whenever he saw Coatlec move against Lord Xirr and moved stealthily into the fray. Lord Xirr was preparing himself to rise from the cold stone upon which he laid when he heard the same distinctive snap-hiss of an igniting lightsaber, followed by the voice of Lord catalyst himself “I should have left you dead in a room where nobody would find you.” There was a menace in his voice that was certainly uncharacteristic of Catalyst “I show you mercy, save your life, and this is how you repay me? I think you were wrong in your appraisal. The only being unworthy of holding the title of Sith in this tomb is yourself.” He leaned ever closer to Coatlec’s head. “Perhaps your mother should have sired you from a far more worthy Lord. Typhojem knows she’s gotten more than her fair share of suitors to choose from. Be thankful I took pains to ensure you remained an only child during my encounters with her. I can’t speak for the rest of the Lords in the Temple.”  Coatlec miraculously blocked the attack from behind firing back with venomous words of his own "Darth Nihl was the most worthy Lord of Krayt's One Sith. I could not have asked for a better father from the Sith, but my mother, on the other hand, was never there. But she's still my mother, and you shall pay for dishonoring my father," Despite his current position, Xirr managed a chuckle at this, Oh Coatlec, still trying to keep up the act, even facing nearly certain defeat.

    Just as Xirr placed his gloved hands on the stone to push himself up off of the floor, he felt himself rise of someone else's volition, he could only hope it wasn't... then he was flying through the air right towards Appolyon. "Appoloyn!" Xirr cried moments before he impacted the caramel-skinned Lady. Admittedly not the most objectionable place to land Xirr thought as he felt himself roll off to the side of Appolyon as she stood up, preparing an attack. Shall we see what these old bones can do? Xirr mused as he reached out with the force, grasping onto his twin lightsaber hilts. The gleaming chrome hilts wrapped in black flew speedily through the damp air of the tomb into the gloved hands of Darth Xirr who grasped them firmly as he hurriedly hopped to his feet. The hilts felt all too familiar in his grip, however so alien at the same time, as if Xirr hadn't used them in months. Strange. He ignited his sabers in front of him in a crossing pattern, though not touching the fiery crimson blades to one another.

    Then came the sultry voice of Darth Appolyon from the right of him. "Auv contrarius, Coatlec," Apollyon said, "it is Nihl who shall pay for dishonoring the Sith Order with such a fool of a bastard!" Then she unleashed the same torrent of force energy that Xirr had himself experienced just moments ago. She gasped in pleasure as the power of Darth Coatlec flowed into her body, drained from his. Then the assault ended as quickly as it had begun. Coatlec was hoisted from the stone at their feet as Appolyon approached his defeated form. Xirr saw her glance around to each team member individually, her onyx eyes gleamed with a hint of... embarrasment? She pointed her lightsaber at Coatlec, the tip fell mere inches from his exposed neck. Her voice was rife with anger as she spoke "He has attacked a Lord of the Sith, a member of my team by the graces of the Emperor, unprovoked!" She pointed at the prone form of Jania. "And she's a disrespectful peon who would have been killed upon the spot if she had dared fling profanity at my master. What say we do? Kill them both?" Xirr spoke then, his first words that didn't pain him since the draining "Humbly, Lady Appolyon, his apprentice, Jania, can indeed still be taught. Though," Xirr's words became filled with spite and venom "Coatlec can die."  Kevla and Scionica also responded to the question presented by Appolyon  “Spare them both. I haven’t been here long, but I’ve seen enough to know that girl hasn’t been given the proper tutor. Useless though she may presently be, she deserves a chance with a different teacher, one who will impress upon her the...importance of hierarchy and respect. As for the bastard lord...” Said Kevla. Scionica's response was similar to Xirr's own “Kill him,” She spat “He’s proven too much of a loose canon to be of any purpose. None of us are safe with his foolish decisions and temper tantrums.” Kevla responded again, refuting her sister's point “If you can control him, we need him. There is supposed safety in numbers, but he’s too spasmodic to be trusted. If you can find a way to restrain his erratic nature, well...it seems that while we’ve all been fascinated by your battle, something else has taken interest.”

    Before Xirr could acknowledge the 'something else' that Kevla spoke of, Viscretus seemingly made the choice for the group. The lithe, ivory Sith reached out with eldritch tendrils of force energy that was all too familiar now. She was draining Coatlec even further. Viscretus cut off the connection with the now frail old man that was formerly Darth Coatlec, and.... turned to Xirr? Suddenly Xirr felt his lost power returning, he basked in the feeling of it, as the feeling of unfamiliarity with his blades waned and then disappeared entirely. Viscretus stepped slowly towards the almost expired form of Coatlec, “We could merely leave him to rot,” she flicked an ivory hand and Coatlec's defining mask flew from his head  “Dear old man Coatlec is dying…” Her teeth flashed in a grin, which quickly shifted to a pout. “How fitting that this would be his tomb.” Viscretus's attention quickly moved elsewhere and then she cried out in warning to the twins "“Assassins! Above you!” She quickly whipped around, Xirr following her with his head, and tore Coatlec away from Appolyon, hurling him past Xirr and into a passage which Xirr hadn't noticed until this moment. He half expected Coatlec to be vaporized, but hoped he wasn't as it seemed that this passage was the only respite from the much more dire threat of the...sentient statue? Regardless. Xirr did not want to be saved, only to be squashed into a pulp by a statue older than he could imagine in the godforsaken depths of a tomb. 

    Xirr moved to where Catalyst and Appolyon stood, he nodded thankfully to both of them for their assistance. He spoke up softly, ready to move whenever it was decided the passage had no traps of a dire nature "I..." Xirr paused for a moment, embarrassed "I greatly appreciate your assistance." He looked between both of the sith at his sides, and cast a glance to Viscretus "Both of you." He looked back to Viscretus, and spoke loud enough for her to hear "All of you." Xirr's tone quieted again "I... fear I wouldn't have fared very well without it." He glanced to the stone at his feet for a moment before continuing, his tone returning to normal "But, what are thanks worth if you don't live long enough to return the favor?Let's make it out of here alive shall we?"

TAG: Darth Dreadwar ,Volshe ,Darth Catalyst ,Padawan4687 , Sedriss Nathemus the Conqueror , @lordjania

   

IC: Karina
The Artificer, hyperspace enroute to the Stygian Caldera

Karina stayed silent as voidwalker spoke to the image. She wasn't very trusting of people due to her history and kept her eyes on him as he seemed to agree with her. She noticed him turning and was already lunging towards the left as he sent the force push towards where she stood. Hitting the floor panels she used to forward moment to roll. She got up and hit the switch turning the lights off in the small room, one thing she had over him was her knowledge of the ship. Ducking down so he wouldn't be able to hit her right away Karina began to move around to the left using the light of the holocron to give away his spot. She used the rumbling of the ship as a way to mask her steps as she tried getting around to his left side and attack. As an extra measure Karina attempted to keep her breathing as silent as possible so she'd be harder to track in the enclosed area. Her mind was racing again but her instincts were what kept her on her feet and made her fight like a Rancor backed into a corner. If she wasn't quick on her feet she would of died back on Tatooine when her sister first tried to kill her. Luckily for Karina it seemed this sith underestimated her which would make her a little more unpredictable.

Tags: Darth Dreadwar Darth Voidwalker

IC: Arcane
Interrogation Chamber, Dungeons of the Sith Temple, Korriban

Arcane inhaled deeply before speaking. "My Lord, forgive me. I thought that since the prisoner will not speak to us, that I may use your presence as a tool of sorts. He seems to be very 'nervous' in your deathly glow."

Arcane does not stand. He merely looks up as so The Emperor may hear him clearly. He thinks to himself: "If I can use The Emperor's presence to command him to speak; it may show resourcefulness. This may work in my favor. Then again, it may completely backfire. Which in turn, I will die."

He dare not move, until addressed by the Emperor. He finally exhaled, his heart beating quickly. Yet he shows no external signs of stress.

TAG: Darth Dreadwar

IC: Arcane
Interrogation chamber, Sith Dungeons, Korriban

Arcane rose to his feet. "Thank you, my Lord." He said gracefully, genuine it was since this could have gone south. It still could.

He walked up to the prisoner who was shaking at the back of his prison. Covered in his own urine, he looked pathetic. Arcane stood at the front of the gate. He spoke with a harsh tone to his voice. "You will answer my questions now, yes? Or would you like to talk with the Emperor. I warn you, he doesn't talk much." He finishes his sentence and smirks. He waits, though no words pass the prisoner's lips.

Arcane feels his blood begin to boil. The thought of this prisoner holding his tongue when asked for answers was irritating to say the least. His hackles begin to rise. His ears pin back as his muzzle forms a snarl. "I said speak up, ignorant welp!" Arcane growls after his outburst. He sighs. "I don't think I need to remind you of our wonderful Emperor's power." He says calmly.

The prisoner begins to sink lower to the bottom of his prison, he begins to form words with his lips, yet no sound emerges. "Speak louder, coward." Anubis snarls.

Through all of this Arcane is hoping that the Emperor is watching the way he handles an interrogation. Even with an unexpected twist thrown in.

TAG: Darth Dreadwar

IC: Karina
The Artificer, hyperspace enroute to the Stygian Caldera

Karina frowned a little since she wasn't a fan of being double crossed but she'd have to take his word that he didn't intend to hurt her. She rolled her eyes at his flirtatious smile and decided a good way to reward his cocky attitude and attempt to beat her earlier. Breaking into a run she jumped up and hit the side of his head with the part of her prosthetic near the thigh. The blades never came near him so he'd know it wasn't a attempt to kill him but it would still teach him a lesson. The kick would put him on his ass and give him a good headache which would of been more than what she got if that force push connected. Landing on her blades Karina walked over and flipped the lights back on and looked to the holocron "there I beat him now start speaking." As she spoke she made her way to void Walker and pulled him to his feet giving him back that flirtatious smile with a little cockiness thrown in. "That shouldn't of hurt too much and it should help get through your head to warn me next time."

Tags: Darth Dreadwar Darth Voidwalker

IC: Karina
The Artificer, hyperspace enroute to the Stygian Caldera

Karina wasn't expecting the shock so as soon as the force lightning hit her she screamed out in pain. By the time he stopped she was on the ground and barely conscious. All she could do was groan as he spoke since she never got shocked like that before and had no way to really defend from it. She'd flinch a little in pain every few seconds while trying to stay awake. Keeping her head down she let another groan out as she waited for the pain to stop so she could get up. It didn't help that her prosthetic limbs were metal which only helped send the force lightning across her body. After a few minutes her mouth stopped being dry " screw you.. backstabber."

Tags: Darth Dreadwar Darth Voidwalker

IC Kubjo the Hutt
In orbit above Nar Shaddaa

Business was good for Kubjo Anjiliac Kekiwa. A steady stream of combatants and a healthy business deal with both the Federation and a few other shady figures would have made most other Hutts into fat slugs. Not Kubjo though. He was resolute to keep his figure as an example to his followers that tenacity was by far the strongest attribute of any being. Not that Kubjo didn't have help though. He, like his father Mika, was trained to use the Force power that flowed through his veins. Unlike his father, however, Kubjo was dedicated to using any means necessary to retain his wealth and his youth. Where his father was trained by a wandering Jedi out of sheer luck, Kubjo took his training more seriously. He used the wealth of his father to track down any leads to increase his control. His searching led him from rogue Jedi, to dishonored Imperial Knights and even traveling Sith would indulge his curiousity for the right price. One day, he was approached by a cloaked figure who promised him great power at the price of his service. Kubjo was not fully aware of what this would entail but eagerly accepted anyways. When the figure only produced a small crimson pyramid, Kubjo was outraged. He summoned his fiercest henchmen to deal with the embarassment and watched as they were all helplessly drained of their life while the man had barely exerted any effort. Kubjo was shocked. He quickly understood the predicament that befell him. He promised his services would be available to the man whenever the need arose.



Now, years later, Kubjo had still very few encounters with the mysterious cloaked figure. What he had recieved that day was a holocron teaching him the secrets of Draining the life from other beings to restore his own strength. He also noticed more and more fighters being directed to his arena that orbited high above Nar Shaddaa with exceptional abilitie like his own. Any that caught his particular interest were tested, and if proven worthy were given the option to become his Champion or be shuttled far away to Korriban where they could hone their gifts. None returned to him after choosing the latter.

Today he had the pleasure of overseeing two of these gifted beings. A young human by the name of Corvar had signed up to display his power. Kubjo had been made aware that he sought higher learning. The Hutt respected the young boy's vigor and resolved to give him a fighting chance. He would face Reaper, an up and coming fighter who had passed through and taken to the ring temporarily. Payment for his victories was an extended stay at one of the Hutts many residences for as long as he would continue fighting. Kubjo, being an entertainer still, had not told either of them that it was not going to be a simple one-on-one bout. He had a new toy he wanted to test: an experimental droid the size of a walker that was said to hold the destructive capabilities of an army in its massive frame. He would unleash it on the combatants at their most vulnerable moment and see what they did.

While the two fighters were preparing in their secluded locker areas, Kubjo surveyed the crowd from his personal box. It was a good turnout today. The betting boxes were packed and the roar of the crowd was nearly deafening. The last match had been between a fairly green Mandalorian mercenary and a Kowakian Monkey-lizard with a fetish for blasters. The armored human was nimble and well trained but by a strange turn of luck, the Monkey-lizard had found a gap in the Beskar plates and tore through the warrior with a flurry of blaster bolts. Kubjo smiled. The Mandalorians were a well respected warrior culture. It was always a pity when one fell so shamefully. Kubjo put his hand out. The crowd fell dead silent and all eyes turned to him. "Keel-e calleya ku kah," Kubjo proclaimed. "Wakamancha Kung." He pointed his thumb down at the combatants and bellowed, "Keepuna!!" The monkey-lizard excitedly executed the defeated Mando. As the stage was set for the next match, Kubjo returned to his makeshift throne. Always exciting when a squash match turns on its head. Kubjo would make a great profit from the bets on that one.

"Mooey mooey!" the Gungan announcer rang out on the loudspeakers. "Dat wassa bombad fightin! Weesa lucky the shields bein up or weesa gettin peppered too!" The Gungan was referring to the domed ray shield that kept the combatants seperated from the spectators. "Now weesa have sometin very very excitin comin out next. Yousa seen him fightin before, yousa know how bombad he can be. Issa Reaper!" Loud cheers welcomed him as the blast doors that blocked the entryway parted before him. "Weesa also got a brand new fighter comin in. By personal invitation of da great Kubjo himself, heesa Corvar!" Across the sand covered fighting pit, a second set of blast doors opened before Corvar. The crowd cheered again, though with percievably less vigor. "And lastly, there'sa been a surprise addition to the fight. Weesa got a little guy who puts up a bombad fight! Put yousa hands together for Kenzi!" A third set of doors opened and a grey, froglike humanoid scarecly over a meter tall exited. He put his hand to his forehead in an annoyed effort to block out the spotlights.



Kubjo again approached the edge of his box and addressed the crowd. "U kulle rah doe kandee kung!" he shouted with a belly laugh. The crowd responded with an uproar of raised arms and voices. "Ohta su marvalic plesodoro! Panwa.... Killee!" The crowd roared as Kubjo signaled that the match had begun. Kenzi was quick to adopt a defensive stance and waited to see what the other two combatants would do.

TAG: darthkain7 , trentongordon

Combo with @lordvassago


IC: Sabba, Vassago, Shira A'dola
Aboard The Triumphant, elevator shafts.

The tangle of cords and wires within the elevator shaft proved to be similar to the the branches and vines of Makatak, just as her Master said. This fact ensured she was able to gracefully climb up and follow behind her Master, Vassago, whom had no issue finding his way thanks to his ability to shapeshift. Of all the strange and terrible powers he seemed to possess, Sabba found herself envying that ability the most; being able to soar through the sky with no concern for the world around her, being able to go where she pleased without being hindered…

Focus, she told herself. Her mind wandered too easily, it seemed. Thoughts of soaring freely didn’t exactly aide her in her pursuit of her Master, rather they served to distract her.

The young woman gripped tightly to a firm post, jutting out from the wall, and scaled up, perching on the post for a moment. She sat, crouched for a moment, teetering only slightly before regaining her balance. She propelled herself upward, springing from her crouched position, and extended her arm to grab onto a hanging cable. With relative ease, she was able to wrap her fingers around the cable and begin to shimmy up, willing herself higher and higher.

The neophyte grunted a bit, tightening her body and exercising her core and upper-arm strength to pull herself up the cord, but something was off. The climb seemed…more difficult. It’s the fatigue, she thought to herself, knowing that this was a bit more of a climb than she was expecting, but still. No, something changed…
A sound, like that of mighty roar, rushed through the shaft, startling Sabba. Her long ember-colored hair began to swirl around her, as did the scarf she had thrown around her shoulders. More startling than the sound, however, was the fact that she found her grip on the cable loosening very suddenly. Her eyes widened at the feeling, as well as the realization that she was no longer moving upward, but…slipping down.

Sabba gritted her teeth in distress, attempting to keep her hold on cord, which had also begun to sway. No, no, no, she repeated. She felt the last of her grip slipping. She was going to fall. Her eyes fell slowly, and she attempted to draw on her training with her Master, but she didn’t command enough of the Force to stop herself from falling, to levitate. She thought back to her time on her home planet, remembering all the massive trees she’d climbed with Merune, and all the times they’d fallen from them; she’d take a few bumps, but it was always important to focus, to see where you were going to land, and how to stop before then. Her eyelids opened, and she peered down and saw…nothing: the foggy vastness went on forever it seemed. She swung back and forth precariously in the shaft, her thin, muscular frame clutching tightly in an attempt to give herself just another second. She swallowed hard and looked down, noting a bundle of cords and wires, something she could attempt to grab as she fell. She would have to grab for it, or she would likely die.

The forceful air rushing down seemed to rush harder, faster with each passing second. Finally, her grip was terminated, and the young woman was sucked downward, free-falling into the shaft. She shifted and turned herself in the air, ensuring that she was facing downward as the bundle would come quickly. What came faster was the post that was jutting out of the wall, the same one she had perched on moments before. She was unable to reposition herself fast enough, unable to shift for more than a few feet, which left her side exposed. She tucked her arms against her body and braced as she slammed across the post. The metal beam laid into her side with a painful pang[/i] and she literally bounced up from the impact before being sucked back down. The impact robbed her of her breath, and the gasp that followed was hollow. Once her breath returned, she cried out in pain, a high-pitched scream leaping from her lips and echoing throughout the shaft.

Sabba’s eyes watered, but dried almost instantly with the rush of air against her. She clenched her teeth and prepared to grab the bundle of cords as it approached. She had trouble inhaling, just breathing normally, and suspected a rib or two was shattered inside of her. The moment came, finally, and she reached out with both hands to grab the dangling bundle of cords. She was able to secure a grip on them, but the sudden stop jolted her body harshly, forcing a painful, involuntary groan from her lips. She hooked her arm into the cords, seemingly latching herself to the bundle, hoping that the suction would stop, hoping that she could reach her Master, that he may help her with her injury…

_____________________________________

Shira watched in pity as the Vahlan lapsed back into his comatose state. She shifted him carefully into a neutral position out of the way, while casting her awareness out to check on Alisha, currently in the midst of a skirmish. Leaping to her feet, she sprinted towards the disruption, but a scream sounded from below her and she skidded to a halt, listening hard. Her mind travelled through the walls and found an unfamiliar presence within the elevator shafts.

“Nox, go help Alisha! I’ll be right behind you,” she shouted over her shoulder before leaping down from the storage area, climbing back down the TIE racks. She vaulted into the shaft, grappling agilely at a cable. Her lightsaber ignited in her other hand as a precaution, careful to keep the blade away from the cables and wires. The silver-white glow of the humming blade added illumination to the close-fit vertical passageway and highlighted a figure some ways below, holding tightly to a bundle of cables. Grey-blue eyes narrowed before widening again in surprise. She was one of the mysteries, the woman that had stood behind the man she had sent after Toxmalb.

Silver plasma deactivated and the ‘saber hilt was clipped back to her belt as she climbed down to the woman, movements cautious lest she slip and tumble down the seemingly endless passageway. She watched her carefully for a moment, assessing the pain in her face and signature. Using a free hand, Shira brushed her fingers gently against the woman’s temple, sending gentle tendrils of relief through the Force. “I haven’t the time to heal you now, all I can do is mask the pain. I need you to take me to your companion, the man I sent after the sorcerer. Can you do that?”

A small flinch shuddered down her spine as she felt Alisha’s injury and a pang of guilt washed over her. Her intense loyalty to her friend and student urged her to go to her aid, but the responsibility of leadership and a quiet urging through the Force told her to find the man who had, impossibly, made his way onto her ship in the middle of hyperspace. She sent a quick message to Alisha through their Bond, noting a pair of Vahlans fighting at her side. //I’m going after the two from the hangar. I’ve sent one of the refugees after you, but he’s unstable. Watch him closely! I will send Shilo after you as well. I’m sorry I can’t help more!//

Sabba’s distressed green eyes relaxed a bit at the woman’s touch, her troubled mind found rest, and the stabbing pain in her ribs dulled almost completely; only a small jolt of pain when she moved, but nothing she couldn’t handle. The rushing air in the shaft had stopped moments before Shira arrived, and Sabba was able to pull herself up, and regain a solid grip on climbing. She took a moment and looked at the woman inquisitively, her eyes narrowing a bit as she scanned Shira’s features.

Her touch made the pain stop, Sabba thought to herself. She tried in vain to contain her amazement of the fact when her mouth fell open; she’d not met anyone else like her Master, but instantly she was able to deduce that this woman was at least something like him, with the powers in her hands.

“You want to meet Voktys?” Sabba’s asked Shira, a small smile forming on her lips while she began to hoist herself up the cable. It didn’t occur to her that this woman would have no idea who ‘Voktys’ was, as it was only Sabba and Renfelt that referred to him as such. She would most likely know him as Vassago, though even that was an uncertainty.

“Yes? Uhm, yes. Take me to…Vok-tys?” Shira sounded the word out, halfway stumbling through it, as she’d never heard it before. She sounded unsure, calling up after the girl that was already climbing the thick rope-like cords and cables of the elevator shaft. She looked on, quite impressed with the girl’s agility, climbing with relative ease.

“You should know, Voktys? My Master,” Sabba began, calling down to Shira while the two of them climbed, “he doesn’t like people.” She stopped climbing for just a moment and looked down at the woman following below her, an apologetic smile formed across her lips. “I’ll tell him you’re nice and that you helped me,” she continued, giving Shira a chance to catch up to her, “but he still may not like you.”

Sabba shrugged her shoulders and jumped up, taking hold of a longer cord and used it to secure herself to the wall; she planted both of her boots against the wall, holding the cord taut, and began to climb much quicker. She had hoped that Shira would follow her lead, up the shaft, to her Master…

_________________________________

The Dark Lord watched as the lightning enveloped the beast. Beast, as it was not nearly human enough to be called anything different after the twisted transformation. The lightning impacted it, wreathing the entire life form completely. What eyes were left melted, the gaping mouth was filled with scorching tendrils of lightning, as was the rest of the flesh. It only lasted moments, the volley of lightning being more than sufficient to destroy the lumbering being.

The hideous clanking of metal, pieces of the once proud Knight, fell to the ground with a clatter. The ozone tang of the lightning mixed unpleasantly with the fetor of the decaying flesh. Vassago huffed a bit, pushing air from his nostrils, and began to shake his head.

“Rest well, Master Chalk. Your watch has ended,” the Dark Lord spoke quietly, his voice carrying only the smallest hint of remorse. He stepped over the pile of smoldering remains left in his path, sweeping his cloak behind him as he did, and began walking for the platform ahead of him. At the end of the passageway was another rail-way, and what looked like another railjet, though it was stocked with cargo containers.

A noise came from the corridor over Vassago’s shoulder, a sound like clamoring out of an elevator shaft he’d flown up not too long before. The noise was just enough to catch his attention, but what followed was enough to halt his steps. His ear perked up slightly at the sound of labored breathing, and he turned to peer down the corridor from over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed when nothing appeared instantly, but just a moment later he saw a familiar form…Sabba. She’d ascended the shaft to find her Master, just as he intended. And not a moment too soon, as the railjet was likely to depart very soon. He turned himself to face her, craning his head back slightly in approval of her determination to reach him. Once she was out of the shaft, she turned back and knelt, extending her hand. Vassago’s eyes narrowed once more and he tilted his head, unsure what she was doing.

He waited the second it took for her to pull someone else up from the shaft, a woman…someone he’d never seen before. Again, the Dark Lord lifted his bearded chin and looked down his nose at the two approaching women. He noticed Sabba was resting her hand on her midsection, tenderly holding a very obviously bruised portion of her skin. Immediately, Vassago’s eyes jumped to the woman with his Apprentice, the one he didn’t recognize in the least.

“Master,” Sabba lowered her head and bowed once she reached Vassago, wincing a bit at the pain in her abdomen.

“Ah, Sabba, who is this you’ve brought along with you,” the Dark Lord asked with a calm, even tone. He looked Shira up and down, picking up on any bits or pieces that he could to place who she was. He reached out for a moment and felt her signature. He felt the familiarity in it. The voice, her voice. She is the one that requested aide when they arrived on the ship…though her name was never given, he was sure this was the woman. He didn’t let on that he knew, however, and instead let his Apprentice speak.

“She is kind, Master. She helped me when I was injured, from a fall. She wants to help us,” Sabba replied with soft respect. She turned to look at Shira, waiting for her Master’s reply, and smiled softly, hoping to reassure the woman.

“She is kind?” Vassago arched an eyebrow, his hand coming to rest in his beard. “I expect since you did not kill my naïve Apprentice, you have earned a shred of favor,” he stated, a small smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. “If we mean to catch your sorcerer, we will have to hurry to the railjet ahead. It will be leaving shortly.” He nodded very subtly to the woman and tilted his head, indicating that she should follow him.

The trio began moving briskly down the corridor, all three minding what was left of Master Chalk, and headed toward the platform. The railjet was still there, and the three boarded, minding the cargo crates on the flatbed of the railcar. It was their goal, all three of them, to ride the railjet car in pursuit of the cultists…before it was too late.


TAG: Lord Vassago , Darth Voidwalker , Darth Dreadwar , Volshe ,